96 – Anti-Muslim violence in times of Hindutva: Histories, modalities, futures
Muslims in India are currently facing multifaceted challenges, including political and economic marginalization, physical degradation, and attacks on their religious and cultural expressions. This panel endeavors to analyze the character and underlying causes of anti-Muslim violence within the Indian context. Specifically, it seeks to address whether this violence is a consequence of the prevailing political supremacy of Hindutva or if it is animated by the country's political structure and culture. The panel also aims to identify the social and political transformation that the Hindutva regime is producing today. It seeks to identify and evaluate both historical ruptures and continuities represented by this regime.
In addressing these inquiries, the panel proposes to uncover and interrogate the epistemologies and strategies that have come to facilitate, justify, and obscure anti-minority violence in India. We invite an investigation of diverse facets such as geographical variations, institutional frameworks encompassing courts and bureaucracies, and social domains including family, community, and religious establishments. We seek to illuminate the discernments of Muslim life experiences and ethical dimensions, with the overarching goal of refining the understanding of Muslim subjectivities to develop theoretical frameworks for comprehending the Indian state, its legal system, and political landscape.
Additionally, the panel invites papers that deliberate on narratives of resistance, reparative measures, and reconstruction strategies, and critically evaluate the potential and limitations of existing political discourses—such as those related to citizenship, Islam, and syncretism—on the trajectory of Muslim and minority futures in India.
This panel is sponsored by South Asian Muslim Studies Association and presentations will be considered for a publication output.
